Stutthof Museum
Pomorskie
Stutthof Museum is located on the grounds of the former Stutthof concentration camp near Sztutowo, Poland. Established in 1962 through the efforts of former prisoners, the museum preserves the historical site of the first Nazi concentration camp set up outside German borders during World War II. The museum encompasses approximately 20 hectares, including the partially preserved Old Camp, the gas chamber, commandant's office, vegetable gardens, greenhouses, and reconstructed crematoria. It also covers the areas of the New Camp and the Jewish Camp, now empty fields, and features a monumental memorial by Wiktor Tołkin. The museum holds extensive archives and offers a permanent main exhibition alongside temporary exhibitions. It serves as an educational and memorial institution, providing guided tours, audio guides, and documentary film screenings year-round. The museum is directly overseen by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and maintains a branch, the Piaśnica Museum, in Wejherowo. Stutthof was notorious for its brutal conditions, where an estimated 63,000 to 65,000 prisoners perished due to murder, starvation, forced labor, and executions, including a significant number of Jewish victims. The site stands as a solemn reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust and Nazi oppression.
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Tip: Visitors are advised to allocate sufficient time for the comprehensive exhibitions and guided tours to fully grasp the historical significance. The museum is open year-round, and purchasing tickets in advance is recommended, especially for group visits or educational programs. Audio guides are available for self-paced exploration. The best time to visit is during spring and autumn to avoid peak summer crowds. Discounts may be available for students, seniors, and groups. Photography is usually restricted inside exhibition areas, so check guidelines at the entrance.
Interesting facts
- •Stutthof was the first Nazi concentration camp established outside German borders during World War II.
- •Between 63,000 and 65,000 prisoners died at Stutthof and its subcamps, including approximately 28,000 Jews.
- •The camp was the last Nazi concentration camp liberated by the Allies, on May 9, 1945.
- •The museum includes a monumental memorial created by sculptor Wiktor Tołkin.
- •The museum holds extensive post-camp archives and offers a permanent exhibition along with temporary ones.
History
Stutthof was established on September 2, 1939, shortly after the invasion of Poland, as the first Nazi concentration camp outside Germany.
Initially a civilian internment camp, it expanded massively over the years and became a regular concentration camp by January 1942.
The camp was used for imprisoning Polish elites and later included forced labor and mass extermination facilities such as a gas chamber and crematoria added in 1943.
It operated until liberation by Allied forces on May 9, 1945.
After the war, most camp infrastructure was dismantled or destroyed.
In 1962, the remaining structures were converted into a memorial museum by former prisoners and Polish authorities to preserve the memory of the atrocities committed there.
Place Guide
Old Camp (Stary Obóz)1939-1943
The original section of the camp with partially preserved barracks and structures, enclosed by barbed-wire fencing, offering insight into the initial layout and living conditions of prisoners.
Gas Chamber and Crematoria Reconstruction1943
Reconstruction of the gas chamber and crematoria facilities used during the camp's operation for mass executions, illustrating the mechanisms of the Holocaust atrocities committed at Stutthof.
Monumental Memorial by Wiktor TołkinPostwar period
A large-scale memorial sculpture dedicated to the victims of Stutthof, symbolizing suffering and remembrance, situated on the museum grounds.
New Camp and Jewish Camp Areas1943-1945
The site includes empty fields marking the locations of the New Camp and the Jewish Camp, reflecting the expansion and segregation policies during the camp's operation.
Museum Archives and Exhibition Halls
The museum houses extensive archives documenting camp history and hosts a permanent exhibition that educates visitors on the camp's operation, prisoner experiences, and the Holocaust.
Contact
Phone: 55 247 83 53
